Page History: Guro Ted Lucaylucay - Lucaylucay Kali/JKD (1946-1996)

Page Revision: 2009/01/05 10:13

Guro Ted Lucaylucay

Marangal Na Guro (Head Instructor)

Lucaylucay Kali

1946-1996

What others have to say about Ted Lucaylucay

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Mike Keller and Ted LucayLucay
October 1995
I will never forget the first time I met guro Ted. I had heard a lot about JKD and kali and decided to investigate it. This was in 1982. Upon entering Ted's school, someone pointed out the instructor and I thought that it was a mistake. His appearance was so untraditional. He sporteda goatee, long hair, and had a red bandana around his head. His uniform was a kali vest, gi bottoms, and tennis shooes. I remember thinking that he looked like a bandito.

As we shook hands, Ted welcomed me in a way so kind that I know instantly that the only mistake made was mine. I told this same story to Ted 14 years later as we were going down 'memory lane'. He laughed so hard he cried. Ted was and is one of the great ones. His spirit will be with us forever.

- Guro Mike Keller

Missed By Many

Ted was a very innovative martial artist. This was evident in Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Art of Kali. He was a diligent student and became the first graduate from my academy in both Jeet Kune Do and Kali. His ability to organize and teach the material helped push these arts into the forefront of the martial arts community. We have lost a great martial artist and he is missed by many.

- Guro Dan Inosanto

Remembering A Friend

Ted was a true martial artist. He stuck to what he believed in and passed on a lot of his knowledge. He was especially adept in the Panantukan (Filipino boxing arts). I always had lots of respect for him. He really did a lot for the Filipino Martial Arts. He was at my house about two months before he passed away. Ted seemed happy and at peace with himself. As good as he was in the martial arts, I will remember him as a friend.

- Sifu Larry Hartsell

Remembering The Laughter

Ted was one of the most down to earth and the most humble person I have ever met. As a martial artist, he was also one of the most gifted. I remember watching how he moved around while going through some drills and thinking to myself how does he move like that. He could move around his opponent and make it look effortless, while his opponent would be trying to catch up. Dispite his skill and knowledge as a martial artist, I will always remember his laughter first. The last time I saw Ted was in October of 1995, five months before he passed away. He had come in to do a seminar at my instructors school (Mike Keller) and afterwards I was invited over to watch a movie and have dinner with them. We were all sitting in the living room watching Dumb and Dumber and eatching ice cream. The next day at the seminar Ted was still laughing about that movie and was telling everyone how funny it was. I will cherish that memory forever.

- Guro Tim McFatridge

Two Left Feet

I had the fortune of training with Guro Lucaylucay in October 1995. While training with him, I couldn't but notice how gracefully he would move. He would move with such precision and was able to put his entire body into motion for the simplest of techniques. He moved like it was completely natural. When I made a comment about this to him, he responded with the greatest of humility and told me that his father, Lucky LucayLucay, said he had two left feet.

It was a pleasure to train with guro Lucaylucay, and his memory will remain with me throughout the duration of my life. He is an inspiration to me as a martial artist and a rolemodel as a good natured individual.

- Cory Smith

Happy-Go-Lucky To The End

I had the good fortune to train with guro Ted in the mid-1980s. Besides a few seminars, I trained in his kali class at the Inosanto Academy in marina del Rey. Guro Ted stressed precision and proper body mechanics. He had a unique way of moving his body along with superb footwork and angulation.

After class, guro Ted would often sit and talke with some of the students about martial arts and life in general. People respected guro Ted for his martial arts ability, but those who know hime respected him even more for his happy-go-lucky personality and humility. It was in those post-workout talks that one could really get a fell for what guro Ted was all about. I was able to spend more time talking with him about a month before he moved on. I'll remember a great martial artist who loved to smile and always had something nice to say.

- Guro Burton Richardson

Teacher, Student, Martial Artist

When you walked into a training hall, you would be hard-pressed to tell the teacher from the student. Ted Lucaylucay was not one to put on airs, not one to let others know who he was or what he could do. Simply, he was a martial artist. And that was enough.

- Inside Kung-Fu

A True Scholar

Upon my return from a seminar that I taught in Columbus, Ohio, I arrived home to find my answering machine quite literally filled with messages, each one bring me the same, sad news; Guro Ted Lucay Lucay, my instructor, my mentor and my friend had passed away.

Guro Ted, whose martial art accomplishments spanned more than three decades, was without exception one of the finest instructors of our time. The son of the late Lucky Lucaylucay, and one of Dan Inosanto’s original backyard students. Guro Ted dedicated his life to promoting the Filipino martial arts as well as the Jeet Kune Do of Bruce Lee.

I consider myself most fortunate to have known him and to have learned from him. He was true scholar in the arts and will be sorely missed by us all. Ted’s spirit and his teaching will live on as instructors such as myself share the knowledge that Ted shared with us.

One flame goes out yet another burns hotter…
One light fades and dims yet another shines brighter…
One bird ends its flight yet another flies higher…
Because of you.

- Richard Lamoureaux
Lucaylucay Kali Logo
Notice the layout of the Lucaylucay Kali logo. Lucaylucay reflected his philosophy that JKD (Jeet Kune Do) is, in reality, just a concept. His logo reflects this by prominently showing the Lucaylucay Kali logo large and in the foregound and the JKD logo set off towards the back and smaller. This shows that JKD is a concept that has influenced and expanded his personal version of Lucaylucay Kali.

This tape series relates the Filipino boxing (Sinum Bagay) to the knife drills making it one art.

World renowned Kali Instructor, Guru Ted Lucaylucay has trained in Kali, Jeet Kune Do, Boxing, Judo, and Karate. He has trained with Filipino Grand Masters such as Angel Cabales, Leo Giron, Ben Largusa and of course his father, Lucky Lucaylucay, to whom this tape is dedicated.

The art of Filipino boxing called Panantukan is deeply enhanced by the movements found in knife fighting. The blade awareness developed from working with knives brings out the best when learning covering, striking and countering skills. Like Chinese boxing, Filipino boxing consists of empty hands, kicking and weaponry as well as utilizing a lot of footwork. With over 30 years of training in arts as varied as JKD, karate, judo, kung-fu, escrima and western boxing, Ted Lucaylucay is more than qualified to guide you through this combat style. This tape will give you a strong foundation on which to enhance your personal combat skills.

Video approximate running time: 55 minutes

Kali/Escrima
The Art of Filipino Fencing
Featuring Ted Lucaylucay

The Filipino art of Kali/Escrima, somtimes known as Filipino fencing, is one of the most dynamic fighting systems ever developed. With over 30 years of experience training witht he likes of Angel Cabales, Leo Giron, Ben Largusa, Floro Villabrille, Dan Inosanto and his father, "Lucky Lucaylucay", Guro Ted Lucaylucay is more than qualified to explain the basic concepts needed to understand this style. In this tape, Ted shows the applications as well as the connection between weapon and empty hand movements. The viewer gets the ABC's of footwork, striking, blocking direct hits and disarms. The excercises are done with sticks, knives and empty hand. A must for those looking to round out their combative skills and concepts.

Video approximate running time: 55 minutes

Stick Boxing
A KALI/JKD Training Program
Featuring Ted Lucaylucay

From the multi-dimensional structure of kali and the progressive concepts of jeet kune do comes the dynamic art of "stick-boxing". In this tape kali/J.K.D. Maestro Ted Lucaylucay shows the relationship of the blad, stick and empty hand in a unique training package. Stickboxing is the blend of the stickfighting and boxing methods of kali/J.K.D. Guro Ted highlights the use of the second hand of kali. Usually considered a checking tool in relation with single stick use, the second hand in stick boxing is a primary, close-range weapon used for punching from all angles. Stickboxing also uses the full arsenal of kali/J.K.D. tools, including kicking, elbows, knees, sweeps, locks and takedowns. However, the common denominator is the "boxing structure". Whether European or Asian, the boxing structure shines through to bind the arts together.

Guro Ted brings out the many elements of this exciting art through combinations of offense and defense, sensitivity and flow drills, J.K.D. trapping, equipment training and free sparring!

Video approximate running time: 55 minutes

The Pocket Stick
Self-defense in the palm of your hand.
Featuring Ted Lucaylucay

Ted Lucaylucay was born in the Hawaiian Islands and experimented with various martial art styles. After moving to Los Angeles, he became one of the early "backyard" students of Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto. He eventually became the first student to graduate from the Inosanto Academy in both JKD and Kali.

After leaving the Inosanto Academy in 1975, he started his own organization Temujin Lucaylucay Kali/JKD. He continued to grow and "Absorb what was useful" refining his skills and tutoring thousands of students along the way.

Ted Lucaylucay passed away March 30, 1996, but these videotapes of the early years of his training are not only historically significant but also a source of timeless information.